The facts
What pyroxmangite actually is
Pyroxmangite is classified as pyroxenoid, with the composition (Mn,Fe)SiO₃. It crystallises in the triclinic system.
Colour comes from mn²⁺ gives the rose to raspberry pink, which is also what a laboratory looks at when it is asked whether a colour is natural.
Refractive index 1.735–1.756. Specific gravity around 3.76–3.80. Cleavage: perfect in two directions at about 92°. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where pyroxmangite comes from
Pyroxmangite is produced at Taguchi Mine, Aichi, Japan, Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia and Iva, South Carolina, USA.
The locality is part of the description, not a footnote — two stones of the same weight from two of these places are not the same stone.
How pyroxmangite is treated
Untreated. Visually almost identical to rhodonite and routinely sold as such; separation needs refractive index or Raman. Cleavage makes faceting difficult.
Treatment changes value, sometimes by a multiple, so it belongs in the description before the price and not after the sale.
What pyroxmangite is confused with
In the trade pyroxmangite is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Rhodonite, Bustamite, Pyroxferroite or Rhodochrosite.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.735–1.756 and specific gravity 3.76–3.80 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What pyroxmangite is used for
Demand for pyroxmangite comes from mineral collecting and jewellery, which is why one price per carat never covers it.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the specimen or by the carat.
Durability and care
Hardness 5–6; cleavage perfect in two directions at about 92°. That combination decides what it can safely be set into.
Below about 5.5 a stone will be scratched by ordinary household dust, which is largely quartz. That does not make it unusable — it makes it a pendant, an earring or an object rather than a ring worn every day.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What pyroxmangite costs
As a guide, pyroxmangite trades around Faceted stones 100–500 USD/ct; specimens 20–200 USD.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is pyroxmangite treated, and how?
Untreated. Visually almost identical to rhodonite and routinely sold as such; separation needs refractive index or Raman. Cleavage makes faceting difficult.
Where does pyroxmangite come from?
Taguchi Mine, Aichi, Japan, Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia and Iva, South Carolina, USA. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is pyroxmangite hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 5–6 on the Mohs scale it is softer than the quartz dust in ordinary household dirt, so it scratches with wear. It suits pendants, earrings and objects better than a daily ring.
How much does pyroxmangite cost?
Indicatively Faceted stones 100–500 USD/ct; specimens 20–200 USD. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is pyroxmangite confused with?
Most often Rhodonite, Bustamite, Pyroxferroite and Rhodochrosite. A refractive index of 1.735–1.756 and a specific gravity near 3.76–3.80 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for pyroxmangite?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about pyroxmangite